Abstract
The use of effective biocides as disinfectants is essential in aquaculture facilities. However, while most biocides act effectively on free-living planktonic pathogens, they are seldom useful against biofilms. In this study, we evaluate the biocidal efficacy and antimicrobial specific contact time of three disinfectants, Virkon™Aquatic (VirA), peracetic acid (PerA) and hydrogen peroxide (HydP), on Vibrio anguillarum, V. harveyi, V. alginolyticus, and Photobacterium damselae subspecies piscicida against their both life phases. By using the minimum inhibitory, bactericidal, and eradication concentrations of disinfectants acting on the free-living planktonic state (MIC; MBC) and biofilms (MBIC; MBEC), we determined the in vitro susceptibility of each bacterial strain against three different individual concentrations of VirA, PerA, and HydP added at 1, 5, and 10 min intervals. PerA and VirA had the highest bactericidal efficacies against the free-living planktonic state and biofilm of all bacteria. Kinetically, PerA gave a positive result more quickly in both cases regardless of the strain in question, while the weakest HydP required longer than 10 min to act effectively. Moreover, we conducted a short in vivo safety trial by pouring the suggested MIC of each disinfectant into tanks containing juvenile Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata). A significant mortality after 24 h was observed pointing to the potential risk a mishap of these chemicals might cause to fish. Nevertheless, collectively, our results support the inclusion of biocides within biosecurity protocols in aquaculture facilities and highlight PerA as the most effective disinfectant for fighting against biofilms produced by V. anguillarum, V. harveyi, V. alginolyticus or P. damselae subsp. piscicida.
Highlights
Aquaculture is recognized globally as the fastest growing foodproducing sector for human consumption (Bayliss et al, 2017)
The susceptibility of hydrogen peroxide (HydP) for V. harveyi, and V. alginolyticus, and, on peracetic acid (PerA) for V. anguillarum, and P. damselae subsp. piscicida did not vary between the three concentrations
Irrespective of the latter observation, we determined that 1.0% VirA, 5.0% HydP, and 0.001% PerA were enough to inhibit the growth of free-living planktonic cells for all the pathogenic bacterial strains studied
Summary
Aquaculture is recognized globally as the fastest growing foodproducing sector for human consumption (Bayliss et al, 2017). The European aquaculture sector alone provides over 3 million tons of fish annually (FAO, 2020). 90% of the European marine finfish aquaculture production comes from only seven countries (France, Greece, Italy, Norway, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom). To satisfy increasing international demand, it is predicted that current production must be doubled by 2030 (Leduc et al, 2018). Such an expansion will necessarily involve implementing innovative actions in aquaculture production while targeting effective health control measures and respecting animal welfare. Regardless of geographical location, species, or production level, diseases remain a significant bottleneck in fish farming
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